Ecology and Field Biology

by Robert Leo Smith, Thomas M. Smith

This book presents a comprehensive overview of all aspects of ecology, including evolution, ecosystems theory, practical applications, plants, animals, biogeochemical cycles, and global change. A new chapter discusses global environmental change, human impacts on the global carbon cycle, and the possible implications for the global climate system. Six "Ecological Application Essays" demonstrate to students the real world relevance of ecological concepts. For example, Part V, Population Interactions, discusses how a lack of mushrooms helped power the Industrial Revolution. Reflecting current changes in the field of ecology, the new edition incorporates more discussion of the evolutionary perspective on ecological systems. For anyone interested in ecology.

Genres: Ecology, Science, Nonfiction, Biology, Textbooks

720 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 1942

Reviews

[Michael Kordek]

Still a good book. Does not define a lot of the terms/names. 60 years old and already is mentioning some of the climate changes that have gotten much more intense since then. Read it in college and wanted to go back over it. Also interesting that it was written in 'pre-molecular-genetics" times.

[Jawad Mohmand]

i think that it will increse knowledge of soil and also the abiotic factors affecting them

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Definitely not written for understanding. Tries to cram WAY too much into this textbook, without good explanations of any processes. This was especially noticeable in the beginning, considering that it covers climate, and I had just finished reading a halfway decent Meteorology textbook that did a far better job explaining climate all around. It's pretty sad to find a SCIENCE textbook NOT written concisely and for clarity, considering that's what you're taught in four-year undergraduate studies in those fields!

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

It has lots of graphs. and at least a picture on every page but it uses an odd page layout. The left page is two column. The right page is two column with a dividing line between the column which is solely to put figures in that right most column, it just not a good design (I did page layout work for publishing for many months). Sometimes that column is left blank other times it has two figures in it. There are black and white photographs and drawings.